Iconic Australian rock band Midnight Oil lead the line-up announcement for WOMADelaide’s new sunset concert series from Friday 5 March until Monday 8 March 2021 in King Rodney Park, Adelaide.
FRIDAY 5 MARCH
SARAH BLASKO
ARCHIE ROACH
LIOR / WESTLAKE / THE ASO: COMPASSION
WOMADelaide 2021 will open with the sublime symphonic song cycle for voice and orchestra ‘Compassion’ – a collaboration between treasured singer-songwriter Lior and acclaimed composer Nigel Westlake. ‘Compassion’ draws from the rich musical worlds of Judaism and Islam and is a profound and poetic celebration of the liberating power of compassion and kindness. We think there’s no better way to welcome you to King Rodney Park than an evening with Lior and the 54-strong Adelaide Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nigel Westlake!
Following ‘Compassion’, settle in for a very special sunset performance from bona fide living legend Archie Roach in his farewell WOMAD performance, and his record seventh for the festival since 1992.
With beguilingly simple melodies and honest and direct lyrics, Sarah Blasko with her full band is the perfect closer for our opening night concert, celebrating the 10th anniversary of her beloved masterpiece As Day Follows Night plus selections from her six-album back catalogue of genre-defining indie-rock and art-pop.
SATURDAY 6 MARCH
MIDNIGHT OIL
VIKA & LINDA
Midnight Oil return to WOMADelaide for the first time in 24 years! Over their 28-year career and 11 studio albums, ‘the Oils’ have had five #1 albums, 11 ARIA Awards, been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and received two Grammy nominations. From the northern beaches of Sydney to the streets of Manhattan, they have stopped traffic, inflamed passions, inspired fans, challenged the concepts of “business as usual” and broken new ground. Their Saturday night show at WOMADelaide 2021 will feature an exclusive set of classic songs from their immense back-catalogue.
It’s been far too long since Vika and Linda played their own show at WOMADelaide. Guesting with David Bridie’s Sing Sing in 2013 and alongside CW Stoneking in 2015, we have to go back to 1995 for their first appearance at the festival. Their 2020 release Akilotoa – Anthology 1994-2006, entered the Australian charts at number one, the first-ever #1 album by an Australian female duo, proving these much-loved soulful Melbourne sisters are just hitting their stride.
SUNDAY 7 MARCH
TASH SULTANA
SAMPA THE GREAT
Sunday night brings you two of the most exciting live acts to recently emerge from the Australian music scene.
Sampa The Great. Winner of Live Act of the Year at the National Live Music Awards, and winner of an incredible three 2020 ARIAs for Best Female Artist, Best Independent Release and Best Hip Hop Release. Sampa’s career continues an unstoppable rise that has seen her break through numerous personal and professional milestones to become one of the most sought-after voices in contemporary rap.
For your maximum vibing pleasure, we’re hugely excited to bring you Tash Sultana’s debut showing with a new live band at WOMADelaide 2021! An explosive artist and multi-instrumentalist who now commands worldwide attention, Tash is a true virtuoso and will be riding high on the release of their new album TERRA FIRMA, due out February ’21.
MONDAY 8 MARCH
MIDNIGHT OIL & FIRST NATIONS COLLABORATORS: MAKARRATA LIVE
THE TESKEY BROTHERS
Monday night we welcome Midnight Oil back to the WOMADelaide stage, for the official world premiere of Makarrata Live, a unique concert presentation of songs from their acclaimed new #1 mini-album, The Makarrata Project. In addition to performing classic Oils songs which revolve around themes of Indigenous Reconciliation, this special event will feature prominent First Nations artists who collaborated on The Makarrata Project and looks set to be an epic finale to WOMADelaide 2021.
Guiding us through the sunset hours on Monday night, say hello to your new favourite band The Teskey Brothers. Spellbinding live shows and timeless, soulful recordings – with echoes of the Motown greats – have propelled these four friends from Melbourne to international prominence in just a few short years.⠀
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Thanks to impeccable musicianship, gorgeous vocal harmonies and a clear love of performing live together, ‘The Teskeys’ will provide the perfect musical balm for your 2020 ailments.